Small road joint machine



1934- J. N. HELTZEL SHALL ROAD JOINT MACHINE Filed March 8. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet I 1 J- NHELT EE, @M

Aug. 14, 1934. J. N. HELTZEL SHALL ROAD JOINT MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1930 W J- N-HELTZE;

MW/MA Patented Aug. 14, 1934 -1,969,ss4 SMALLROAD JOINT MACHINE John Heltzel, Warren, Ohio '1 Application March 8, 1930, Serial No. 434,291

' 20 Claims. (01. 94-51) I The present invention'relates to improvements in small joint machines for the general purpose or inserting joint material or strips in concrete or plastic roadway and has for an object to pro- "vlde an improved machine wherein the strips may be introduced and inserted with facility and precision and in which the attendant operations of smoothing the-concrete about the joint strip.

quent to the cutting operation, the strip inserted and installed in correct alignment and the concrete floated correctly and smoothed in and about the installed strip.

vide animproved road joint machine which will admit of the stripbeing installed in a flush position with respect to the surface of the concrete roadway, in a projecting position, or in a posi- 7 tion in which the upper edge of the strip is depressed below the surface of the roadway.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine by which the operaticns above referred to may be carried out simplyand economically.

With the foregoing and other objects in View,

the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

r In the drawings, in which like parts are denoted by like or similar reference characters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of improved road joint machine constructed according to the present invention and as shown applied to a concrete roadway indicatedpartially in section. Fig. 2 shows across section through the roadway and through a portion of the machine with the joint strip installed flush with the roadway.

Pig. 3 is also a'perspective view showing a modified form of machine as applied tothe concrete roadway, which latter is partially'broken away and partly indicatedin' section. 1

Fig. 4is 'a further perspective view illustrating a still further modified form of thejmachine,

partially shown section.

also as applied to the'concrete'roadwaywhich is I g a wheel 24 for'co'nver'iient rotation whereby to ad-.

Fig. 5 is across section taken through the; concrete roadway and through the improved'ma- A further object of the invention is to pro-' chine with the joint strip indicated as installed, in a projecting position, and

Fig. 6 shows a pe'rspecti-ve view of the roadway witha projecting joint strip and a longitudinal float finishing member.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, 10 representsgenerally the. plastic road structure; and indicates a longitudinally extending blade, which is suspended from a traveling bridge or frame, such bridge or'frame being supportedformovemerit along the side formsat the sides-.of-the roadway substantially as described in my prior Patents Nos. 1,740,345 and 1,750,107. The longitudinal blade may becarried by a workmanis platform 12 or maybe supported and operated independently of the workmans platform;

The longitudinal blade, whether associated with the platform 12 or not, may be raised up and down into and out of theconcrete IO -by any appropriate means, such as by the adjusting members or screws 13. These members-13 will raise or lower the apparatus toward and fromthe plastic concrete, such devices being shown and described more particularlyin my copendingapplication Serial No. 434,290, filed March 8, 1930.

nitas-STATES PATENT OFFICE-" The longitudinal blade'is provided with a cutaway portion 14 to permit of the operation of suitable finishing tools, orv other members, under, the blade, and such blade is provided with a depending portion 15 which will-serve as a straight edge. A blade or guide 16 is associated with the straightedge l5 and isspaced outward-- ly therefrom, being supported near one end by a yoke 17- which provides a slot extending up,- wardly from the platform-and from the blade- 7 11. The two-members 1 5 and 15 provide therebetween a space through which the joint strip may; begintroduced in the act of installing the,

same: A cutting blade 18 is positioned between the straight edge 15 and the guide memberlfi and is equipped with an upstanding-lug 19 having aseries'of perforations .20 for receiving a pin 2 1:passing through the members 15 and 16 providing a hinge or pivot on which .to swing the. guide Iii-when it is desired to swing the guide vertically out of positionv substantially as de-, scribed in my copending application Serial No. 456,556.. ,The cutting blade 18 extends beyond. the membersl15 and 16 where it is supplied with an adjusting screw,2 2 threadedthrough a brack et 23 carried byjjthe platform andhavinga hand just itheouter end of Qthe'cutting blade up and down witn respect tUtIierOadWa'y'.

* "structure, and 11a represents a combination joint I At 25 is indicated the joint strip in the act of being placed through the slot between the members 15 and 16 and into the groove 26 made in the concrete by the cutting tool 18. A joint strip 25a is shown as installed in the roadway flush with the surface thereof. A suitable surfacing or floating member 27 is indicated adjacent the cutting blade 18; while a surfacing member 28 is shown as having free movement 10 through the cut-away portion 14 of the straight edge 15." This surfacing member may be raised vertically out of contact with the con-- crete in any appropriate manner, preferably by the use of an arm 29 having a roller 30 at its 15 lower end operating in a slot 31 in an angle iron or bracket member 32 carried by the surfacing member 28.

A cooperating substantially horizontalarm 33 is coupled pivotally to the upper end of the arm 530 29. At its other end the arm 33 is pivoted, as

indicated at 34, to the blade 11 or to the platform. A perforated sector 35 is positioned on the blade or on the platform in position adja-' cent the arm 32, which latter is perforated in registry with the arcuate'line of perforation in the sector 35, whereby a pin 36 may be passed through the registering perforations for the purpose of holding the arm 33 in any position of angular adjustment about the pivot point 34. In this manner the surfacing member 28 may be adjusted as to vertical elevation and held in the adjusted position.

' In operating the apparatus, the blade 18 is positioned in the plastic concrete 10 along the line of the joint. As the apparatus is moved forward longitudinally of the roadway, the blade 18 will separate the coarse aggregate and open up the groove 26. At this stage of the operation, the condition of the concrete will be roughed up as indicated at 37. The surfacing or floating member 2'? may be operated manually to smooth down the rough material 37 along both sides of the blade 18, solidifying the concrete and otherwise floating it down as indicated at 38. As the blade 18 is moved forward in the plastic concrete, a' neatly finished slot or groove 26 will be the result, into which the joint strip .25 may be deposited by inserting the strip be-- tween the members 15 and 16 and partially through the yoke 17, if desired.

L In inserting the strip 25, the same is supported to alignment by the straight edge 15 and a finishing float 39 may be used to further smooth down the concrete along the joint strip 25a.

in my application Serial No. 24,801, filed April It will beunderstood that the joint strip 25 a may be installed flush with the surface of the concrete roadway, or it may be depressed below such roadway, in which case the finishing float 39 may be also operable to smooth down the concrete or the joint strip may be installed with its upper edge projecting upwardlybeyond the surface of the roadway, as indicated in Fig. 6, in which case 9 --a surfacing member, such as shown in Fig. 6 and hereinafter more fully described may be operated manually longitudinally of the joint strip.

' As shown more particularly in Fig. 3,10a desighates the plastic concrete'roadway or surfacing grooving, installing and aligning blade which may or may not be carried by the workmans platform 12a. The blade or platform, or both, may be elei; vated and lowered by action of the adjusting Cutting blade 18 is substantially as disclosed screws 13a. At the forward end of the apparatus is carried a cutting shoe 40 adapted to cut the groove in the concrete for receiving the joint strip. A U-shaped trough is provided along side a portion of the depending part 15a of the blade, such trough 40 extending an appropriate distance below the part 15a. This trough or trough shaped section 40 may be constructed integral with the depending blade portion 150., or it may consist of a separate piece andbe removably attached to the'depending blade part 15a, .in which case it is preferably permitted a vertical adjustment, as by the use of pins 41 carried by the trough 40 engaging in vertically elongated slots 42 in the blade member 15a. It will be understood that the connections 41, 42 are detachable for permitting of the replacing of the trough 40 when it becomes worn or damaged. The outer upper edge of the trough 14 is also preferably provided with a stiffening flange 43.

The depending aligning blade 15a is also cut away at its rear end portion as indicated at 14a to provide clearance for the operation of the finishing tools or other suitable implements, one of which is represented at 44. It will be appreciated that the trough 14 will partake of the vertical adjustment imparted by the screws or adjusting members 13a, and that by the use of these members, the trough 40 may be depressed into the plastic concrete.

The forward end of the cutting shoe 40 may be. carried at a higher elevation than the rear end if so desired. The forward cutting member or shoe 40, which may be slightly wider than the width of the trough section 40, and may also project slightly below the trough 40, as indicated at 45, is drawn through the plastic concrete whereby to form the groove in the roadway. A suitable joint "strip 251), which may be a flat premolded or ribbon joint, or may consist of removable steel plates, or of other suitable joint material, is deposited in the trough shaped member 40, as indicated.

As the carriagato which the apparatus is attached, is moved forward, the joint material 2517 will emerge from the end of the trough member 40 and be deposited in theconcrete as shown at 250. The strip at this stage of the operation will be supported to alignment by the depending blade 15a. It'will be, thus, held to alignment while the workman compacts and floats the material along the joint strip with a hand float or other suitable implement.

This operation may be performed before the joint strip has been moved completely down into position in the groove. The hand float will force the joint strip in contact with the depending blade 15a which serves as a straight edge.

The joint'material may project above the surface-of the roadway, as shown in Fig. 5, or it may be installedfiush with the roadway as shown in Fig." 3. Where the joint material is installed flush with the roadway, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it is desirable that the depending blade 15 penetrates below the surface of the concrete 10 to a de- 1 0 sired extent so as to engage theside of the strip 25a to hold it toalignment.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the floating'or finishing tool '44 may be manipulated over the top of the joint strip 250, wheresuch strip is installed flush with the surface of the roadway. I

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated the joint strip 25d as being installed above the top of the surface of the roadway, it being understood that, when I premolded material is used, thesurplus material projecting above the surface of the road may be trimmed off flush with the roadway or maybe rolled down by traffic, as may be desired.

After installing the projecting joint strip 2503, as shown in Fig. 6, a split float 46-may beinserted over the strip 25d and manipulated longitudinally of the roadway for the purpose of smoothing the concrete at both sides of the strip.

As shownin Fig. 5, where the strip 2503 extends above the surface of the roadway, the blade 15a need not penetrate into the groove, but the projecting portion of the strip will engage against the blade 15a, which latter will act as a straight edge.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, 10b designates the plastic or concrete roadway, and 25a represents the joint strip installed therein. In this embodiment of the invention, a modified form of joint installing and aligning device 47 is represented, being of substantially inverted U- shape for straddling the groove into whichthe joint strip or joint material is to be placed and installed.

In this instance the workmans platform 12b is adapted to detachably carry the member 47 as by the use of brackets 48. The member 47 is adapted to be moved up and down into and out of contact with the plastic concrete to engage and align the joint strip when such joint strip projects either above the surface, is flush with the surface, or extends below the surface of the conorete. The member 4'7 will be provided with one or more openings or slots 49 to permit the operator to insert an implement for forcing down the joint strip into the groove; or the member. 47 will be otherwise provided with means whereby access may be had to the joint strip. The member 47 is also undercut or provided with a cutaway portion 50 to permit the workmen to operate the finishing float or the finishing tool 51 or other implement. The installing member 47 is also further provided with a longitudinal slot 51 which may be reinforced on each side by flanges to stiffen the same. Suitable joint strips 25 are inserted through the slot 51 and forced down into tion while the final aligning and finishing opera- 7 tion is performed by the floats 53 which are carried at the rear side portions of the member 57 and are formed with vertically elongated slots 54 for receiving the fastening screws 55 carried by the member 47. In this way the float 53 may be adjusted up and down.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An improved road joint machine comprising a longitudinally movable aligning member, a joint material receiving member associated with said aligning member to receive the joint material and guide the same into the groove beside said aligning member.

2. An improved road joint machine comprising a longitudinally movable joint aligning member, a joint strip guiding member associated with the aligning member and movable therewith, and

means for vertically adjusting said members.

3. An improved road joint machine comprising a longitudinally shiftable joint aligning member, means to raise and lower said member, a cutter carried in advance of said member, and a joint material receiving member spaced from the aligning member and carried thereby.

4. An improved. road. joint machine comprising a longitudinally movable and vertically ad-.

justable joint strip aligning member, a guide.

member, a guide associated therewith, and a pivotally mounted and adjustable cutting blade carried forwardly of said aligning member.

7. An improved road joint machine comprising a longitudinally movable aligning member having a rear lower cut away portion, joint strip guide means associated with said member, said guide means being in advance .of the cut away portion, and smoothing means extending above the installed joint strip and through saidv cut away portion.

8. An improved road joint machine comprising a longitudinally movable aligning member having a rear lower cut away portion, guide means associated with the forward portion of said member, a smoothing member operating laterally' above the installed strip and through said cut away portion, and means carried by said aligning member for vertically adjusting said smoothing member.

9. An improved road joint machine comprising a longitudinally movable aligning member, said.

member having a rear lower cut away portion, a cutting blade mounted adjustably at the forward portion of said member, a. guide member spaced from the forward portion of said aligning member, a transversely movable smoothing member operating through said cut away portion, and means carried bythe aligning member for vertically adjusting said smoothing member.

10. An improved road joint machine comprising an aligning member, a trough carried at the sides of the forward portion of said aligning member, said trough adapted to receive joint material, which when the aligning member and trough are moved forwardly will be deposited in the groove in the roadway.

11. An improved road joint machine comprising a longitudinally movable aligning member, an adjustable trough member carried at the forward portion thereof for receiving joint strips, which when the machine is moved forwardly will be installed in the groove in the roadway, and means traveling in advance of said aligning member for cutting the groove in the concrete.

12. An improved road joint'machine comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped member adapted to straddle the groove in the roadway and having a slot to receive the joint strip material, said member also having a slot to receive an implement for forcing the joint strip material down into the groove.

13. An improved road joint machine comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped member adapted to straddle the groove in the concrete and having a slot therein for receiving the joint strip, said member also having a lateral cut-away portion for receiving floating implements and the like.

14. An improved road joint machine comprising a longitudinally movable aligning member having a rear lower cut-away portion, strip guiding means associated with said aligning member for installinga strip in the joint groove of the roadway beside said aligning member, and surface smoothing means operating longitudinally above the installed strip and through said cutaway portion of the aligning member.

15. An improved road joint machine comprising a longitudinally movable aligning member having a rear lower cut-away portion, strip guiding means associated with said aligning member for installing a strip in the joint groove of the roadway beside said aligning member, surface smoothing means operating longitudinally above the installed strip and through said cut-away portion of the aligning member, and means carried by said aligning member for vertically adjusting said smoothing member.

16. An improved road joint machine comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped member adapted to straddle the groove in the roadway, said member having a slot to receive an implement for forcing the joint strip material down into the groove.

17. A joint producing apparatus for plastic concrete and the like comprising a grooving implement moved in the plastic concrete to form a groove, a longitudinal aligning member following the implement to align a joint strip therealong in the groove cut by said implement, means to support the implement and member with the implement at a lower elevation than the member, means foradjusting the member and implement, and surfacing means for surfacing the concrete over the strip.

18. A joint installing machine, comprising a movable carriage spanning a roadway, a longitudinal joint aligning member to receive a joint strip thereagainst, and means associated with the aligning member to guide the strip into the plastic concrete longitudinally of the member to be deposited in the plastic material, a transverse reciprocating surfacer to finish the plastic material over the joint, and means cooperating with the joint aligning member and the surfacing member to release the surfacing member from the plastic concrete.

19. A joint installing machine comprising a movable carriage operating over plastic concrete, a workmans platform supported by the carriage, a joint installing and aligning member extending along the platform, the forward portion of the member projecting slightly into the plastic concrete to receive and align a joint strip thereagainst, the bottom rear portion of the member being cut away, a surfacing member operating in the cut away portion on the plastic concrete over the installed joint, and means on the platform to raise and lower the surfacing member to and from the plastic concrete.

20. A joint aligning and installing member, consisting of a longitudinal aligning member to engage the top surface of a plastic surfacing structure, a second longitudinal aligning member spaced away from the first member and pro- 105 jecting above the plastic concrete, a blade to be moved down into the plastic concrete between the first named members, means for finishing the plastic material along the blade, and means for moving all of the members longitudinally of 110 themselves to receive a joint strip in the groove produced by the blade.

JOHN N. HELTZEL. 

